Automatic train control



Il FLM renace i,

Specieaton 'of Letters atent.

NEWT YORK.

y Patented l To all fre/"mmy t 'may concern.'

yBe it known that ll PAUL J. Swinton, a citizen ot the United States, and resident of the city ot lutlialofin the county of Erie and State ot' New York, have invented a new and. uset'ul Automatic- Y'lrain' Control, of which the followingl is a spt-rcitication.V

This inyention relates to r ilways and pan ticularly to the control oi" cars or trains thereon..

An important object of this invention is an arrangement and construction ot train control whereby track'way. means are enahlcd to create a plurality ot distinctive conditions upon the car or' train, which distinctive conditions may be used to appropriately govern the train in as inany dillferent ways.

Other objects and advantages of the in vention will anpear as the description7 hereinafter appearing ot 'tl-ie particular physical embodiment which has been selected to illustrate the principle of the invent-ion, pro# gresses, and the novel Jfeatures ot the in-A vcention will be vparticularly included in the claims hereto appended.

The invention consists in the combinations and constructions, embodying the principle ot the invention, and 'iarticularly described in the specification and pointed out in the claims for one particular physical embodiment ot'` the invention.

. in describing the principle ot the invention, reference ist had to an illustrative physical embodiment illustrated by a singie schematic View in the drawings forming u partot this specification, which drawing` illustrates the invention as applied to a car.

lo the limiting- ;-y used tor illustrating the particular physical embodiniei'it ot the'principle ot my invention. an ordinary railroad tie is shown at l. liloun'ted on this tie in the usual and ordinary manner are the rails 2.

A car is illustrated as being' on therails i), by the showin.; o'll the ordinary axle 3 und the wheels The can which designated as a whole by Fries :i relay It R. and another relay These relays used to suitably control the schematically illustrated devices 76 to Hl, inclusive. These devices'tl to 81 inclusive. may he et' any sort ot device desired which may be operated to one condition by a tlow ol electrical energyY and which will assume another condition when the liow oi electrical energy ceases. T hey may be any of the well known devices, which register or record a condition or which controla train directly or throughthe intervention ot a h urnan agency. The devices TG to 8l inclusive are merely the means-by which the pluralrty'of different conditions on the train may benarde manifest. The devices T6 to 81 inclusive as will be yhereinafter telly `pointed out are controlled by appropriato energizations of relays A R and D R.

ln order to appropriately control the lays il R, and D R on the car C5 a shoe is provided on the car C pivoted at the point 6 to the bracket secured in any appropriate vand slutahle manner to aportion of the car.

This shoe 5 operates electrical contacts and contacts with and'is lifted by the ramp f5 positioned alongside of a rail, as 2 in any suitable or appropriate manner on the trackway and supported, as by means ot tie l..

.ln order to enable the shoe 5 hy Contact oli with the ramp 8 to effectuate itspurpose-V that '.s, control relays A R and E Rvthere is provided on the traclovay a isource oi directcurrent 9 and a source ot alternating current 10. rEhe alternating current generatorlQ is connected to one rail 2 by means of wire ll7 condenser 12 and wires 13 and 14. The other terminal of alternating generator current 10 is connected to ranrp 8 by means of wire 15, hand switch 16, wire 1R condenser 18 and wires 19 and 20.

The source of direct current 9,-herein illus- Y source 9.' The two conducting arms 21 and 'Q2 oit the switch S are pivoted at the points 23 and ?respectively` Then the arnis 21 and 22 Yare moved int-o contact with ythe points 25 and 26 respectively, then the ramp 8 is positively energized7 that is. is connected to the positive terminal ot' the source 9. the connection being as tolloivs: wire 27. point 25, arm 21, pivot 23, wire 2S, choke coil\29 and wires 30 and 20. At the saine time the raill 2 is connected to the negative terminal or" source 9 as follows: wire 31,

and 20 to the, ramp H.

nection from the negative terminal of thel source 9 to the ramp H is as t'ollows: wires 3l and 36. point 35, conducting arin 2l, pivot 2?), wire :28. choke coil 29 and wires 3() At the, saine time the rail 2 is connected to the positive terminal ot' source 9 as follows: wire 2T, point conducting arm 32, pivot 24, wire 32, choke coil 32% and wires 3 and 14 to the rail i2. ItI will of course he evident that when it is desired to have ramp 8 neither electrified positively or negatively the con-` ducting arms 2l and 2Qv of switch S will he moved out otl contact with all ot the points Q5. i26'and 35 and it will also be evident that switch arm 16 may be pivoted on point 37 so as to be moved into contact or out of contact 'ith point 38.

current generator l() in order to prevent the direct current from the source 9 'from iiowing through the alternating current generator. The choke coils 29 and 33 are in,- serted in the circuit of the direct current source 9 in order to prevent alternating eur ront from the alternating generator current l() from flowing through or to the direct current source 9.

The relay A R on the car C is double wound, that is, it has a winding 39 and a winding 40. This relay also has two armaturcs lll and 42, which are in the upper posi-V tion as shown when either ot" the coils 39 or 40 is energized but move to a lower position when both ot' the coils 39 and 4() are dcinergized.

The relay D R has armatures 43, 44 and 4l-5, which when the relay is energized are in the upper position as shown, but when the relay is (leenergized are in ay lower position. The relay D R also includes what are known as polarized armatures 46, 4T. 48 and 4%). These armatures swing from right, to left as viewed in the drawing. When the relay D R is energized positively, that is, when the current enters D R hy meansot wire 50, then all of the armatures 46 to 49 inclusive swing to the right to the position as shown in the drawing. lVlxen, however` the current leaves the relay D R by means otl wire 50, that is. when it is negatively energized, then all ot the armatures 46 to 49 incl usivc swing to a le'lt hand position ,correspmiding to the right hand position as shown in the drawing. y

lt is the intention tohave the coil 39 of relay A. li operated by alternating current The condensers l2 and 18 are inserted 1n the circuit of alternating `relay D R, wires 7l and 72, armature v only and consequently the condenser 5l is inserted between wires 52 and 53 so that only alternating current may reach the coil 39 ot relay A R. On the other handit is the intention to have relay D R operate only by direct current, consequently a choke coil. is inserted between the wires 5() and 55 so that only direct current may reach the rela D R. y

It' alternating current from the generator 1t) is supplied to ramp 8 then as the car C advances and causes the shoe 5 to contact with ramp 8 the alternating current will flow from ramp 8 by means ot' wires 56 and 53 to Land through condenser 5l, then through wire 52, through the coils 39 ot' relay Alt and thence by means otl wires 57, 58 and 59 to the axle 3, and thence by wheels 4 and rail 2 to the wire 14, thus returning to the alternatinfr current generator. The result of current lflowing in the above traced path will be the energization of relay A R arising armatures il and 42 to be raised if they are in the lower position or to hold them in the raised position if they are already raised. Ramp 8, is, as usual, `being inclined on both ends, allows the shoe 5 to gradually lower as the car C passes the ramp, so that insulated metallic plate 60 connectswires 6l and 62 before the shoe 5 actually leaves the ramp 8. The connectiono't wires 61 and 62 by the shoe 5 while the armature al is .in a raised position causes a stick circuit to be formed through the coil 40 of the relay A R which circuit serves to maintain the relay A- R energized until the advancing car Cl causes its shoe 5 to contact with another ramp 8. This stick circuit is as follows: one terminal ot battery 63, wire 64, coil 46 of relay A R, wire 61, plate 60, wire 62, armature .1Min the raised position and wire 65 to the other terminal of loattery 63. l

It the ramp 8 is positively energized then when the shoe 5 'contacts therewith direct current will flow through the relay D R en`- tering ny means of wire 50. The circuit'is as follows: ramp 8, shoe 5, wires 56 and 55, choke coil 54, wire 50, relay D R and wires 66, 58y and 59, axle 3, rail 2 and wire 14 to thelother side` ot' the source 9, the conducting'arms 21 and 22 being in contact with the points 25 and 26 respectively. The ramp 8, being inclined on both ends, the shoe will be lowered and make contact with the wire 67 before the shoe 5 breaks contact with the ramp S so that the armature #13 being in the raised position a stick circuit for relay D R- will be formed as follows: one terminal of the battery 68, wires 69 and 70, polarized armature 4T which was thrown to the position shown by the positive energi'ization of le), wire 67, shoe 5, wires 56 and 55, choke coil 54, wire 5 0, relay R, wires 667 58 and 73,

polarized armature. el@ and wire T4; to .the other terminal or the battery 68. Thcurrent Honing in lha above. traced patl will maintain the relay l) il energized while. the ear ,C is passing between ramps. The positive rnereiaation o l1 relay l) .it causes polarized :miniatureslG to i9 inclusive, to be moved to the right as shown in the orawingr.

lt lthe ramp ll is negatively energized then the positive current, when the shoe 5 r'oiltaets willi ramp ll, will flow from wire lli to rail the Circuit then being as follows: wheel 4l, axle wires 59, 58 and 66, relay l) ll, wire 50, choke Coil wires 55% and 56, shoe 5, ra :up Fl and thence by wire tothe negative terminal of the source S, it being understood that the conducting arins 2l and 22 ofthe switch S are in Contact with the rpoints and 25 respectively. The Current flowing inv the above'traeed path willnega `tively energize relay l) R and so cause the polarized armatures .4G to 49 inelusire to swing to a left han position corresponding to the right hand position as shown in the drawing. Even when relay l) R is negrtively energized it will also be stuck up by a circuit as `fellows: battery 68, Wires 69 and. T5, polarized. armature 46 in the left hand position by reason of the previous negative energization ofrelaygl) l?, wires. 73, 5S and `6l,relay Dlt, Wire 5G, choke coil 54, wires o5 and shoe Wire 67, armature Ll wires and Y1, polarized armature l? in the lett hand position, and wire 'Telto the other terniinal'or the battery 68. ,i

lt will or' course he understood that whether relay D R is energized positively or negatively the arr'natures a, lliand 45 will be in the upper. position and it will be only when. relay' l) R is not energized at all. that the armatures. 43 'to 45 inelusive are in the lower position. lt will also be understood that polarized armatures 46 to 49 inelusive will remain in the position to which 'they have last been moved until the relay D ll has been rerersely energized.

'Devioe'l is energized when alternating` Current potential is applied. to ramp 8 and ramp, 8 is in addition positively energized. Under these conditions relay vlut/is enera gized, relay D R is energized and the armatures lr6 to i9 inolusive, are moved to the right as shown iu the, drawing. Under those conditions a rircuit is formed through derioe 7G as follows: 'battery 65%, wires 39 and 7U, armaturo-T, wires 7l and S2, armature 42,'wire, 83, armature. @e wire 84, armature 49, wire. Sii, device T6, wires 86, 87, S8. 89, 90, 91 59 and T3, armature a6 and wire 74 to other terminal of battery (S8. Device 77 is energized when alternating Current potential is impressed upon ramp 8 and also the ramp is negatively energized, that is, direct current potential is impressed upon railQ.. Under these Conditions relay A l energized, rela;7 l) R is euergliaed and armatures lo to 49 inclusive are moreel to the leltvhaud position. llnder thrse conditions a rirruilV is formed. through deurrl lows: battery G3, wires ('Sl and i5, armature lo in the left hand position. wires T3, 5S), lll, EN), Si), Htl, lll and 92, derive T?. wire ill'. armature' -l-Sl in the lei'r, hand position, wire 3l, armature l. wire Sil. armature 2, wires and Ti. armature l-,T in the lei' hand position and' wire H to the other terminal of battery (SH.

Derive Trl is energized when lie ramp il is positively energized, only. that is, when only a direr' current potential is impressed upon ramp llnder these conditions relay fr R would he deinergrized due lo the breaking oithe stirbr eirruit by the raisingr of shoe 5 when it contacts with the ramp 5% and'relay l) l?. would be energized and the armatures i6 to 49 inclusive. plared lu the right hand position aS shown in the drawing. llnder these rondi tions the derive T3 would be energized by a circuitas follows: battery on. wi es (3S :nul T0, polarized armature 4i', wires 7l and aru'iature #l2 in the lower position, wire 9S, armature l5, wirrx 99, armature 48 in the right hand position, wire i700, device T53 wires 93, 8H, 3l), lll), Sil, 59., and Til, armature 46, in the right hand pos ion, and wire to the other terminal of the battery on.

Der/ire T) would be, 'energized nen the ramp S is negatively energized o; y ih t when the rail 2 has a dirert rurrent poten impressed upon it and no alizernatino' euri. is supplied to rauipl. llni'ler these rondtions the relay l woula; be deinergizeri and the relay l) ll would be energized and .the )Violarized armatures 46 to ll) inciusire,

would be in the estreme eorrespoiuling to the' rigrl and position as shown upon the ilra\"-.in;'. nd r these rondiiions a eirruit would be formed through derive Y!) as tollowa: battery G8, wires {3S} and 7:3, armature lo in the lett hand position, wires Til, 55%. Sil. 5N), HS) and 95.. ileriCMl-l i 101, polarized armature El iu' the position wire Sll. armature All, mature. l2 in the lower positini, wire. T1, polarized armature l? in the loir. ll; position and wire Tl tothe other terminal u the battery (35%.

'lhe device. Sil would be energized when an alternating rurrent potential only is ini-i lei't hand position i li TT il pressed upon the ramp llnder these oon-x ing that the last energization off relay ll- W'as negative, wires 73, 59, 9i, 90 andStlle-l vice 80, wire 10:2, armature in the lower as fol hattery 68, wires 69 and 75, armature i assumlGD will

position, wire HTS, armature lf2, wires 82 and Tl, armatin'e l? in the lett hand position and wire 'Tl to the other terminal or' battery 68.

Device 8l energized when either a direct current potxfnial or'an alternating' current potential is impressed upon the ramp 8 orthe rail 2. llnder such conditions hoth relays A ll and l) li, will he deinereizcd and their armatures in the lower position. linder such conditions a circuit throughdevicc Si will he formed as fohowsz battery 68, wires (if) and T5, polarized armature 4G in the lett hand position, assumingr that relay l) Yll was last negatively energized,.wires 7B, :79, 9i and 9G, device S1, wire 10i-i, armature 4:5 in the lower position. wire 9S, armature #l2 iin the lower position, wires 72 and 8l, polarized. armature 47 in the lett hand position and wire T4 to the other terminal o'lf hattery 68.

l" rom the above description it will he apv parent that the following conditions prevail, that is, that the devices T6 to 8l inclusive are energized when the conditions are as fol lows: device 76 is energized when ramp 8 is energized with alternatingr current and positively energized with direct current; device 7T is energized when ramp 8 is energized with alternating current and negatively energized with direct'current; device T8 is energized when ramp'i is positively energized with direct current only; device 79 is ener- ,sized when ramp 8 is negatively energized nan direct current only; device 8) is energized when ramp 8 is energized with alternating only; and device' Sl is energized when either alternatingr current or directcurrent is supnlied to ramp Y ln the foregoingdescription, devices TG to lil. inclusive have not been specilically designated as representingl any particular specific devilie. This is hecausc, the schematic showingl ot these devices 76 to til inclusive, is intended to include any and all devices approyniate for either directly controlling a car or train as by means oi the air hralce or indirectly as loy moans ot a lamp or other signal given to the driver ot thc train so that he may then control the train or may represent registering" or rccording devices for indicating the condition set up on the train or car.

Although the sources of current have been shown as manually controlled it is tohe understood that any of the well known methods of controlling these sources lor connection or disconnection with ramp 8 are contemplated.

lt should also he further understood that ramp 8 is only a schematic illustration of the. ordinaryund conventional ramp having' 't horizontal portion and an incline at both ends and that the number used and ltheir position and spacing; longitudinally of the track is dependent uponv the result sought to he accomplished in the controlol thc i train.

Although the construction of one physical embodiment of the invention has been parY ticularly described and the operation and principle thereof explained nevertheless it desired to have it understood that the vtorni selected is merely illustrative but does the car; means for conditioningthe electri? cal receiving devices on the car from the said sources whereby at least four distinctive conditions of the electrical receiving devices may be obtained.

2. In an automatic train control, in combination: a roadway; a car; six electrical receiving devices on the car; a source of electric current ot' one characteristic on the roadway; a source of electric current of another' characteristic on the roadway and havingP at least two variations o'f that charactcristic; means including a single ramp for connecting the said sources with' and disconnecting the said sources from `the six electrical receiving devices so that six distinctive, conditions are established.

3. ln an automatic train control, in combination: a roadway; a source of electric current of one characteristic on the roadiniy; a source of electrical current of another characteristc `on the roadway and having at least two variations ot that characteristic; two electrical devices on the car; means `for energizing one of the electrical devices by ern-rent of one characteristic and means for energizim,Y the other ot' the electrical devices by current of the other characteristic and means controlled jointly by the two electrical devices for traincontrol.

l. In an automatic train control, in combination: a roadway; a source of electric current of one characteristic on the roadway; a source of electric current ot another characteristic on the roadway and havingA at least two variations of that characteristic; an electrical device on the car; a second electrical device on the car including an armature dillerently operated by the said variations g' means for energizingr the lirst mentioned electrical device by current of one characteristic; means for energizing the second mentioned electrical device by the variations of the current of the other charafforisiu ami means conticief jointly by connecting the first mentioned means, in-

the istn iti-fined doeii-irai aicvice. and the cluding-condensers, with the wires; means armature :i the second mentic ed electrical cnnecting the Secund mentioned source device fm min contini'. with. the Wires including reactances; train 5. In nu automatic imminenti-cl, iii comm ccntrol devices andmeans 'connectingthe bination': n source of alternating current; two wires with the train control devices;

i source of direct current; ;\v).wires; means: PAUL J. SIMMENV 

